The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-30
The CIVIL SERVICE.
Commissioner 0berly Explains the
Law Once More.
0sne Advice 90 the Members Of the
Illinois Democratic Assoc.
ciatlOn-Ihe Presf'
dent In the city.

Ouu IL, OOerly, Oh tuo O'Vh ooINiVo
Com m lssion, has written the following
letter to Mr.. L. Q. Spence, chairman
Of the Illinois Democratic Association,
Of this city, which has invited Mr..
Oberly 10 address the association this
evening. The Illinois Democratic As
ISOLATION Is q political association OF |
clerks from the State Of Illinois, In tire |
government depsrtments' service:
"Sspts nber %. 1887.
"DEAR sIR: I have como to the con.
clusion that I cannot accept the invi- |
tation OF the Illinois Democratic Asso-
citation, courteously extended to me
by You 90 committee OF that body,
without violating official obligations.
"The commission holds that en-
trance to and continuance In that part
OF the executive civil service know
as the classified civil service should be-
upon the merit OF the aJ pl mt, or
without regard TO his political opinion
or affination. Tnis opiaion 10 ia stified
by many considerations, all Of which
lead to the conclusion that
the civil services act of 1883
was enacted for the purpose OF pro.
vidlng non partisan service. II fol-
love, therefore, that this Law should be
executed In strictly non.partisan
manner; and from this proposition
logically follows the conclusion that
an officer charged with ils execu ion
cannot be effective In the disc nargs Of
that duty II by active PARTED patton In
party politics he destroys the con.
fidence of the public la his fairness
and impariiaiity. A civil service com.
missioner or civil service ex.
aminer as q member OF q political
committee or member, patron or en-.
courager OF political association COM
possd Of persons In the public ser.
vice, all members OF one political
party, organix d for the purpose OF
putting certain political partisans into
ard oil excluding certain other politi.
cal partissns from offics, would car.
tsinly be out Of place, aud the public
would be justified In the conclusion
that in the discharge OF his official
dulles he might bear unfairly against
10 itical opponents and lean partially
toward party friends. The commits
zion has expressed the opinion that q
Republican in the public service has
the right to entertain strong political
views, and TO give, at the proper time,
strong expression to these views.
"rhis position may be perverted
tate an annaaxanoa - in,.n.i.lon...
with the position that the Illiaois
Democratic Association may 10. with
propriety be patrons ID or encouraged.
II may be held that there can be no
legal or other good objection that can
be urged against the policy Of Demo
cra,s in the pub ic s4vice organising,
as you have done, Tor ihs purpose OF
being active In ,foG t. 10 promote
the interest Of ths sdmlni-irAtiou. In
other words, II my % aid that there
10 an W llingntss ol ny part to give
to the Drmoora 10 cfh ;sIhold,r the
came partisan pty l'lsss t1si are ao.
cord, as OF Tish: TO chs Republican
III ELI ldef. 4 caudiJ consd ration
II .hs Illinois ID ,mocratic Association
In The light ehed on II by eever,l SC
| tons VI the civi service &c. will ,ho gsv.
er, show you that my obi ACTION to ouch
secciations-to partisan associations
OF Office holders-are based upon q
strong foundation, which no partisan
fophisry Can destroy or even wssken.
Mr. 0oerly then gu ties the ,setions OF
the civil service act (ll aud l4l which
prohib, employees from either giving
or receiving political contributions,
and continues:
"Now, does II not follow that ofii sers.
clerks aud other persons In the ser.
vice oi the United States, who are or.
ganis d for political purposes, and
who, by imitation lees, dues and con.
tributions, deffsy tbs expenses Of this
organisation, are violating Sections IL
and IA OF the civil service act7 They
are giving--they are handing over
10 off ,ere, Gle ks or other persons In
the service OF the United States, aud
these persons acting 40 officers OF the
associations as their Representatives OF
the associated cfiisefs, clerks and
other persona Ia tbs services OF the
United State, are receiving m oney for
political urpnses-money TO be APP
piled 10 the promotion Of political oh.
jscts. IL shou not be forgotten tina,
the provisions Of the civil service act,
10 which i have referred, and other
similar provisions Of that act, were
passed while this Republican party
was In powor, and when, by perverl.
ing inst meLt lllties, the Eepub lean
were using the public eerviee for par.
tisan purposes; when the Republican
pary 10 filing the civil rervice with
nsu and womsn, not because they
would be efficient public servants.
but for the reason that they or their
friends had been active la advancing
the political fortune Of some mem Der
Of that party; when having thus ap.
pointed men and women for partisan
reasons only, the Republican party
then robbed them by assessments and
by solicitations, accompanied by open
or hintsd threats OF dismissal; when,
for the purpose Of making its frequent
attempts at risklug OF robbery effect.
i've, II organis d, the Republican State
associations, and used them In taking
from the purses Of its victims money
that was needed In the support
and education OF families dependent
upon the pereons who were compelled
10 heed the partisan demand u
"stand and deliver" IL should not b.
forgotten by Democrats that The pena
clauses OF the civil service aci
we're aimed at this system OF robbery
by rssessmeut and solicitation, and al
all the inslrumentalitiss by which
that system was MAIDS effective. Dem
oorsts applauded tbs enactment q
these provisions, and congratulated
Themselves upon the probability tha
they woald destroy the maligr
Influences OF the Republican Sat,
associations located at Wahing
ton. and given 10 tho Demo
cratic party q fair cha ca In . fail
6shI for tie Presidency. And tia
Democrats were not mistaken. Thu
penal clauses OF the civil service &C
did break the power OF the partilar
collector who robbed the clerks oil thu
itmsnis by using the Repuoicat
s ate Associations ~ bic weapons o